Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-08-16
CATCHING THE BOAT.
AN EVERY DAY SCENE AT A NEW
YORK PIER.

BustIe, Confusion and Hurry Just Before
the Boat Leaves 60 Tardy Passengers
Who Don't Want 20 BE Left Behind.
A Little Too Late.
1t was q sultry afternoon when re-
porter was walking slowly up West
street, wondering what could induce any
body to do anything such weather and
wishing that something would happen to
revive his spirits, which were slowly
dropping under the burning rays of the
July sun, when the loud changing of
steamboat bell made him resolve to watch
the departure of those more fortunate
than himself, even il he could not go with
them to New England, whittier the boat
was bound.
All was hustle and confusion at the pier.
Trunks and boxes of all sizes and kinds
were being hurried on board the steamer
as she impatiently churned the muddy
water into mass of white foam and
quivered in every beam as she strained at
the great ropes which bound her firmly TO
the wharf. People were hurrying on and
off as the reporter stood near the gang
plank and watched the ever changing
scene.
Judging from the hustle and fuss in
progress one would think that all New
York was going on the boat In fact,
larger number than usual was
going ON board, for every one
seemed anxious to exchange the hot, sti-
fling air of the city for the cool, fresh coun-
try breezes. Here comes typical YAM
kee, long legged and loose boned, tightly
clutching worn grip sack with one hand
and wiping his perspiring face with the
other as he settled down from the half
canter in which he had been indulging into
slow walk, and calculated:
s'Wall, / declared I've got the boat
after ALL He was going back to tVic-
try" he explained to the reporter, and
had come down to see his brother, who
twas to work in a notion house, lie
had decided that New York was "a big
place.
ONLY A PLANK.
"All aboardr' shouts the captain, and
the plank for the. baggage is removed,
leaving only the narrow plank for passen-
gers. Just at that moment cab is hur-
riedly driven up on the pier, and young
man clad in tennis suit and grasping
big cane and a small bundle jumps out
and proceeds to dance excitedly before the
door of the carriage, while he called out
to the captain, "Stop her a minuter'
''Weu, hurry up! don't stand there in
front of the door," yells back the captain
good naturedly, and the youth steps aside
far enough to allow two young girls with
their arms full of bundles to alight.
''Here comes two more shouts the
agent, as two women come rushing fran
tically down the pier, waving their pack
ages in the air, just as the gang plank
was dangling in mid air Again IL was
lowered, and upon it the women rushed,
only to stop in the middle of it while one
informed tlpe captain that her husband
hadn't come yet, and the other wanted to
know whether her trunk had been checked
'tclear through to Boston" and who had
the check. Just then the husband ap-
peared in the distance, mcandering along
toward the boat as if he had the whole
day before him. AT last he seemed to
understand the signals that were frantic
ally made to him, and then he showed
that he could run. He lost his hat, but
he got there just in time. The captain
told the woman that the trunk was ''all
right and again the plank was lifted.
1.-TWO more,n the cry is again raised, as
q man with big basket and woman
with baby were seen indulging in sort
of chip hip'' race along West street, half
block away But it was too late, for the
ropes had been cast Off and the boat, free
from all restraint, quickly glided out from
her slip into the stream as though she
were glad to leave her hot home for the
cooler waters of the sound. As the re-
porter stood watching the retreating vessel
the man and woman came up to the spot,
the woman one length ahead and both en-
tirely out of breath. They watched the
boat q moment and then turned and looked
reproachfully at each other and walked
slowly away.-New York Tribune.